Folding table



May 17,1927. 1,628,773

H. J. GILBERT FOLDING TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 un mul fmgg H. J. GILBERT FOLDING TABLE May 11, 1927.

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 16. 1925 Patented May 17, 1927.

UNITED STATES 1,628,773 PATENT OFFICE.

HENRY J. GILBERT, F SAGINAW, MICHIGAN.

FOLDING TABLE.'

maintien mea February 1s, 1925. serial No. 9,434.

My invention relates to folding tables, and more particularly to ironing boards or tables of the type in which the ironing board is supported on a collapsible leg structure which may be extended to support the board for service, or folded flat againstlieboard so that the article occupies little space for convenient storage when not in use.

In my pending applications for patent bearing Serial Numbers 743,657 and 743,658 I have described ironing boards of the type in question which are well adapted to serve the purposes for which they were designed and which in some respects are similar to the ironing board hereinafter described. M y present invention relates to certain details of construction of the leg and associated folding members which are designed to simplify the construction shown in myl earlier applications, and which shall afford a maximum of strength and stability while facilitating the manufacture and assemblage of the parts, with consequent economy in the commercial production of the article. To this end I have devised and invented the ironing board which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings and hereinafter described in detail, my invention residing in the particular construction and arrangement 3 of the legs and the manner in which they rare hinged and connected to associated parts.I In the appended claims, I have pointed out the essential elements of my invention, it being understood, however, that the claims are not intended to be .lim-

itedto the form of the parts illustrated and described further than a limitation to the ldescribed lform is necessary to distinguish i them from the prior art.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my novel ironing table with the legs extended into position for use; Fig. 2 is a bottom Lplan view of the board with the legs in close position; Fig. 3 is rear view showing the top portion of the rear legs in ex tended position; Fig.' 4 is a fragmentary vertical section showlng the top portion of the front leg of the board, on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 and viewed in the direction indicated by the arrow, the leg member and con'- nected parts being shownv in extended position; Fig. 5 is a bottom. plan view of the rear portion of an ironing board embodying a modified form of my invention, the legs f The rear legs 5--5 of the folding strucbeing shown in folded position; and Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section on a plane passing axially through the upper end of the front leg of the table, the leg being shown in folded position and the board inverted.

Like reference characters4 indicate like parts in all the figures of the drawing.

The ironing board l of my novel ironing table has secured to its underside a front bearing member 2 to 'which is pivoted the front leg 3 of the collapsible supporting structure, and a rear bearing member 4 to which are independently pivoted the spreading rear legs 5-5. Both front and rear bearing members may conveniently consist of metal castings, suitably formed -to provide adequate bearings. The frontcasting is formed with Widely spaced orificed bearing lugs 2-2a, integral with strengthening flanges 2b-2b, and the rear casting is formed with opposite, obliquely extending end portions at opposite ends of a central squarely transverse central portion, the end portions j i being formed with similar spaced pairs of orificed bearing lugs 4--4a and .44-4", and

the inner members of each pair of lugs be ing connected by a strengthening flange 4c on -the central portion. For the purpose of enabling a cloth cover, such as is usually applied to ironing boards, to be readily fastened to the board, I have formed the rear portion of the rear casting with upwardly extending loops 30 at the outer side ofl elongated openings parallel with and adja-.

cent the rear edge of thecasting.

The front leg 3 of the folding supporting structure consists of a centrally arranged shaft which is provided at its inner end with a terminal transverse base portion or cross hub 6, rigidly secured to such leg. In the present instance, as shown, the hub is a cast ing, bored to receive a pivot pin 7 which rotatably engages the orifices in the bearing lugs 2- The leg 3 is a tubular shaft in construction, and if desired its bore may be filled with a cylindrical wooden core or plug 8 which will in some measure serve to stifl'en andstrengthen it. For the purpose of conthe leg being securely fixed to the hub in.

such manner as to form a substantially integral united member.

ture are likewise formed of tubular shafts lll immovablyV unitedl with terminal bases or N lcross hubs -10a which are respectively mounted in the pairs of bearing lugs 41-4a and 4"-4b of the rear bearing member 4 by means of pivot pins marked 11 and 11a, respectively, in the manner above described. The legs proper are obliquely set with respect to the axes of the hubs and thelr pivots, and owing to the oblique setting of A the pivot bearings with respect to the longitudinal axis or center line of the board the ,legs will spread outwardly when unfolded from the closed position shown in Fig. 2 to their extended supporting position, and thus afford a wide and stable support to the board.

The front leg and rear legs are connected together by means of a pair of connecting rods 12-1'2 which are both pivotally connected to opposite sides of the front leg near its outer end by means of a cross pivot pin 13, and are also pivoted respectively to the rear legs at intermediate points of the latter by 'means of pivot pins 14-14, the proportions and arrangement of the parts being such that in folded position the legs and connecting rods will lie flat against the lower collar 16 `slidingly engaging the front leg 3. As illustrated,

and preferably, this collar is cnt away at one side, in the present instance its forward side, to leave a projecting portion arranged to engagdthe hub 6 of the front leg when the folding leg structure is in extended position and at the inner end of the leg 3 the securing plug 6a is shouldered to engage both the end face of the leg and an internal shoulder presented by the radial face of a counterbore at .the projecting upper or vinner end ofthe collar 16. This construction obviates any necessity for accurately fitting irregular surfaces at the upper end of the collar and around the securing plug. The front leg is yieldingly maintained in extended vposition by means of a spring pressed ball 17 seated .in a transverse bore in the hub 6 and arranged to cooperate with a cupped seat formed in theinner face of the' counterboreof the projecting portion of the collar when the collar is in uppermost position.

In Fig. 5, I have illustrated a modified form of construction of the rear legs, in

which therear frame member, marked 20, is

formed with pairs of bearing lugs, marked 21, and the rear legs are each rigidly secured to transverse and obliquely disposed base portions in the form of a bar 22 near its outer end, theends of such bar being formed with ears pivoted to the adjacent lugs 2l and the inner end of such bar being secured to a diagonal brace 23 which is rigidly secured by a rivet pin 24 to the leg adjacent the pivotal connection between the latter and the associated connecting rod 12 and locking truss rod 15. If desired, and as illustrated, the brace 23 may also engage the pivot pin 14 which pivotally engages the rods 12 and 15.

I have shown fastening tapes 25 secured to the underside of the board opposite the ends of the legs 3 and 5 when folded, which may be used to fasten the legs and collapsible leg structure to the board, so that it may be handled and used as an ordinary ironing board, and supported at its ends in any manner, leaving a free space underneath, if desired. Excepting at such times the tapes may be left unfastened, and obviously are not open to the objection which an automatic catch would have of requiring to be disengaged each time it Was desired to set the board up for use.

I claim:

1. In a folding ironing table or the like, a front bearing member secured to the table top and having broadly spaced bearing lugs, a front leg member consisting of a centrally arranged leg portion and a transverse hub portion pivotally supported by said bearing lugs, a pair of rear legs pivotally connected to said table top, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot and also pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, and a pair of locking truss rods severally pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, said locking truss rods being equipped with a common member arranged to slidingly engage said front leg.

2. In a folding ironing table or the like, a centrally arranged front leg hinged to the table top and having a slide thereon, a pair of rear legs each having a transverse base portion immovably united thereto, said base portion being hinged at its ends to the table top, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot, and also pivotally connected with said rear legs at inter mediate points thereon, and a pair of locking truss rods severally pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, said locking truss rods being conneeted with said slide.

3. In a folding ironing table or the like, a centrally arranged front leg hinged to the table top and having a slide thereon, a pair o f rear legs each having a transverse obliquely disposed base portion, said base poring connected with said slide.

4. In a folding table or the like, a @entrally arranged front leg hinged to the table top and having a slide thereon, a rear bearing member having obli uely 'extending end portions each formed with a pair of bearlng lubs, a pair of rear legs each having a transverse obliquely disposed base portion, said base portions being hinged respectively to said pairs of bearing lugs on said bearing member, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot, and also pivotally connectedwith said rear legs at interf mediate points thereon, and a pair of locking truss rods severally pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, said lookin truss rods being connected with said sli e.

5. In a folding' ironing table or the like,

a front bearing member secured to said table topand having spaced bearing lugs, a front leg consisting of a central tubular shaft and a transverse hub portion pivoted in said lugs, a rear bearing member having obliquely extending end portions formed with a pair of bearing lugs, a pair of rear'legs each having a tubular leg portion and a transverse obliquely disposed hub portion, said hub portions being respectively pivotally mounted in said pairs of bearing lugs on said rear bearing member, a pair of connecting rods pivoted to said front leg near its foot and also pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, and a pair of locking truss rods severally pivotally connected with said rear legs at intermediate points thereon, a collar slidingly mounted on said front leg, said locking truss rods being pivotally connected with said collar.

f HENRY J. GILBERT.

each 

